John Galliano's Met Gala comeback is officially off the table. 

A month after being named the subject of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2027 Costume Institute exhibition, an honour granted to only two other living designers in history, the 65-year-old has pulled the plug in the wake of heavy backlash.

The announcement of the retrospective, titled John Galliano: Horizons, was immediately met with intense scrutiny due to the designer's past actions. 

In 2011, Galliano was ousted from his position as Dior's creative director when he hurled anti-Semitic insults at a couple sitting on a café terrace in Paris. Soon after, footage emerged of a separate incident in a bar showing Galliano abusing patrons and telling them, "I love Hitler."

Watch: The Wildest Looks From The Met Gala & The One Moment That Truly Shocked Us. Article continues after video.

Following the fallout, a French court convicted Galliano of a hate crime stemming from the two incidents, handing him a €6,000 suspended fine.

While he has spent the last decade working toward rehabilitation (most notably leading Maison Margiela) the decision to grant him fashion's highest institutional honour reignited deep-seated anger across the industry and beyond.

The controversy further escalated when critics pointed out a glaring oversight in the event's scheduling. The 2027 Met Gala was slated for the first Monday in May, which happens to fall directly on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The combination of honouring a designer with a history of anti-Semitic remarks on a day dedicated to commemorating Holocaust victims sparked immediate outrage. 

Now Galliano has released a statement on Instagram announcing that he is withdrawing from the exhibition, making it clear he did not want the debate surrounding his legacy to put the Met in an impossible position.

"After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time," he wrote. 

"I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognise and respect that an exhibition honouring my work would be painful for some."

In his post, Galliano addressed the lingering pain his past actions caused. 

"I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry," he continued. 

"I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one's conduct over time."

The Met's leadership moved quickly to endorse his withdrawal. Museum director and chief executive Max Hollein confirmed the joint decision to call off the show after thoughtful discussions. 

Meanwhile, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour praised the designer's choice to step back. 

"I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the museum have my full support. His soaring imagination, fed by a lifetime of curiosity and research, is matched by his exceptional craft," she said in a statement. 

"Cut, fit, the evocative line of a bias-cut dress, colour — he's a master of it all. Without one or the other, if his technique wasn't equal to his storytelling talents, he wouldn't be the premier couturier of his generation. But he most certainly is."

However, according to The New York Times, the 'decision' made by Galliano came at a time when a number of donors and political leaders were coming forward to express their opposition.

The Times quoted Jewish leaders who spoke out against the planned exhibition, including politicians, art world "titans" and museum donors.

Most prominently, The Times mentioned billionaire Alice Tisch as being opposed to the exhibition. She and her husband, Thomas Tisch, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Met between 2020 and 2024. According to The Times, she sent an email that carried significant weight.

The publication confirmed that Galliano's departure became known on Monday, just as key members of the Met's board of trustees were scheduled to gather for a morning meeting to discuss the fate of the exhibition.

With the retrospective cancelled, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has confirmed that details regarding a brand-new theme and exhibition for the 2027 gala will be announced at a later date.

Feature Image: Getty.